The two lead boats in the Barcelona World Race are
preparing for a gruelling 3,500-mile game of chase across the Southern
Ocean, until the next natural gateway of the course, Cape Leeuwin in
south-west Australia. Neutrogena has become the second boat in the Barcelona World Race fleet
to enter the Indian Ocean, crossing the 20°E meridian line at 21.35 on
25 January. Guillermo Altadill and Jose Munoz's gamble of diving to the
south in the final stages of the Atlantic saw them cross the
southernmost tip of Africa around 12 hours behind first-placed Cheminées
Poujoulat, but crucially they go into this evening within the same
weather system as Bernard Stamm and Jean Le Cam.
Guillermo Altadill explained their route, "It was not really good, I was not really comfortable sailing down there with this low pressure coming from behind, so we did a little bit of zig-zag… and to be honest I never found the groove of the boat, sailing fast and at a good angle, that's why these days we were sailing a bit random."
Since entering the Indian Ocean, Cheminées Poujoulat and Neutrogena have each taken a turn in the more advantageous conditions - Neutrogena taking 30 miles out of the leaders' margin overnight in stronger 30-35 WNW'ly winds before dropping 40 miles back.
The front-runners should see another 24 hours of reaching, with Neutrogena potentially recovering some ground in more westerly winds. The pair will pass Prince Edward Islands (the next course waypoint) in the next day. However, conditions become less certain after the Crozet Islands with a high pressure system to the north-east of the archipelago.
Strategic plan
Both highly experienced teams say they will be sailing conservatively over the next stage, but with just 150 miles between the boats the level of competition looks unlikely to wane. Bernard Stamm commented today, "We are always conservative in how we sail. Since the beginning we have been conservative.
"There are times when it is necessary to attack, to not fall out of a weather system. With this course, that is the case. The wind is largely consistent, but if the anticyclone [ahead of us] decides to move further south, it would close the door on us. We'd prefer to advance at that time."
Guillermo Altadill also explained, "Well, the more important thing is to be in the same systems as [Cheminées Poujoulat]. So we are now in the same system and the same conditions. I don't want to push the boat just to cut miles to him and have a risk of breaking things, so we will hang there and we will find out later if we have the opportunity to push the boat and get closer, but it's not my obsession now. My obsession now is to get the boat fast with no problems. Later on we will worry about Cheminées." (www.sailing.org)
Guillermo Altadill explained their route, "It was not really good, I was not really comfortable sailing down there with this low pressure coming from behind, so we did a little bit of zig-zag… and to be honest I never found the groove of the boat, sailing fast and at a good angle, that's why these days we were sailing a bit random."
Since entering the Indian Ocean, Cheminées Poujoulat and Neutrogena have each taken a turn in the more advantageous conditions - Neutrogena taking 30 miles out of the leaders' margin overnight in stronger 30-35 WNW'ly winds before dropping 40 miles back.
The front-runners should see another 24 hours of reaching, with Neutrogena potentially recovering some ground in more westerly winds. The pair will pass Prince Edward Islands (the next course waypoint) in the next day. However, conditions become less certain after the Crozet Islands with a high pressure system to the north-east of the archipelago.
Strategic plan
Both highly experienced teams say they will be sailing conservatively over the next stage, but with just 150 miles between the boats the level of competition looks unlikely to wane. Bernard Stamm commented today, "We are always conservative in how we sail. Since the beginning we have been conservative.
"There are times when it is necessary to attack, to not fall out of a weather system. With this course, that is the case. The wind is largely consistent, but if the anticyclone [ahead of us] decides to move further south, it would close the door on us. We'd prefer to advance at that time."
Guillermo Altadill also explained, "Well, the more important thing is to be in the same systems as [Cheminées Poujoulat]. So we are now in the same system and the same conditions. I don't want to push the boat just to cut miles to him and have a risk of breaking things, so we will hang there and we will find out later if we have the opportunity to push the boat and get closer, but it's not my obsession now. My obsession now is to get the boat fast with no problems. Later on we will worry about Cheminées." (www.sailing.org)
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